Athletic Shoes

AsSiMiLaTeD

I've been buying New Balance for as long as I can remember, specifically the 7xx and 8xx series. I've never been a big fan of Reebok, and don't know about Nike or Addidas. I've also seen a few other brands more late, namely Asics, Brooks, Saucony, etc.

Are New Balance still considered to be the best shoes, or should I look at another brand - I've noticed that not all of their shoes are made in the USA.

I'm looking for the most comfortable shoes available, they don't necessarily have to be the most durable.

bobman1235

If you're looking only for comfort, then no one can tell you what fits your foot best. I've had comfortable shoes that other people tell me suck on their feet, and vice versa.

Willow

I recently bought a pair of Under Armour and they are so comfortable! almost like massaging my feet when wearing them.Now they are Xtrainers though as they are for the gym/workouts

Sherardp

I wear them all, Reebok( I'm a classics guy), Nike ( Airforce 1), Jordans ( I collect them, I have 15 pr new in box), Timberland and others. Love sneaks. Agreed wear what comfortable. New Balance still makes a great shoe in my book, I have a few pair of them too.

I shop at www.eastbay.com

AsSiMiLaTeD

OK, so comfort aside, is there a brand that's clearly better or not as good as the rest? I was thinking about an alternative to New Balance given some of the feedback I've read lately, but not sure what to look at.

My main issue right now with New Balance is that hardly anyone carriers them anymore. Foot Locker, Finish Line, Champs - none of those guys have a decent selection if any of New Balance.

BigMac

I train at my gym daily and I have found that for me the most comfortable shoes are the Nike 360. I use them for running,normal workouts,going outside doing strongman type training, (they handle alot of weight very well). I have owned them since they came out and have bought a new pair every six months (I am VERY hard on my shoes). They hold up very well under the most demanding training and your feet feel like they are on a air cushion. At the end of the day my feet still feel great and are not sore at all. Here is a link to the shoes (you can custom color them to your liking as well). Shoes are like audio, it's what you like the most and feels the best. Bobman hit the nail on the head.

http://store.nike.com/index.jsp?country=US&lang_locale=en_US&l=shop,pdp,ctr-nikeid/pn-AM3630811/pbid-INSPI_57101_v9_0_20081017/piid-8063/pid-227782/cid-1#l=shop,pdp,ctr-nikeid/pn-AM3630811/pbid-INSPI_57101_v9_0_20081017/piid-8063/pid-227782/cid-1

I have tried NB shoes and they were comfortable but the heels always tore off during training or the stitching came undone. Then again I know NB didn't make their shoes for the type of hell I put them through. I use to wear jump boots for training but I needed more flexibility so I tried about 15-20 different brands/models of shoes before deciding on the 360.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Those 360 look nice, I'll have to see if I can find some on sale somewhere, doesn't look like they come in a wide though.

Shizelbs

Asiscs. IMO, as a former competitive long distance runner.

nikolas812

Asiscs has my vote. I haven't found a more comfortable shoe.






Nick

zingo

I run in the Fila Flow Testament ii. It has a carbon fiber footbed that keeps a good arch on your foot and still remains comfortable for longs miles.



http://shop.fila.com/us/eng/men/sale/detail/FW01617

AsSiMiLaTeD

I'm reading that Asics are cut a bit wide, which actually works for me - is that true?

Willow

AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »

I'm reading that Asics are cut a bit wide, which actually works for me - is that true?

Good to know as the UA I was talking about is more for narrow feet, but they are the best I have owned today. I'm at the gym 3x a week with trainer and 2x on my own with 30mins of weights and 30 of cardio and I have yet to find anything wrong with them

AsSiMiLaTeD

Yeah, I have hobbit feet. I wear an 8 4E

wizzy

AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »

I've noticed that not all of their shoes are made in the USA

They've for a long long time had different lines, some made in USA and some not. There aren't enough people willing to pay the extra to support making them all in the USA, so they need to make some overseas to compete on the lower end.

I seek out the ones made in the USA and buy those.

Also Chacos, made in USA, and birkenstock/betula made in Germany.

W

ND13

Filas are the most comfortable I've ever worn. Too bad noone sells them around me anymore.

edbert

AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »

My main issue right now with New Balance is that hardly anyone carriers them anymore. Foot Locker, Finish Line, Champs - none of those guys have a decent selection if any of New Balance.

Am I remembering correctly that you are in the DFW area? If so, go to Run On. Being a running store they have lots of shoes and I know they carry a pretty good line of New Balance. Not only that, but they will watch how you run/walk and get the shoe that works perfectly for you. You just have to take your current athletic shoes in with you. There is also Luke's Locker that should carry New Balance as well. Both places are similar in price to the big brand stores, so you don't have to worry about paying more because it is a specialty running store. I also recommend getting some "running" socks. They are super comfortable for everyday use and helps to prevent blisters and other foot irritations.

I personally prefer Adidas TrailRunners. I still have a pair from college(now almost 10 years ago) that still are serving me well as my working in the yard shoes. They are comfortable and everything is still holding together, and I was not easy on these shoes.

Good luck man!

inspiredsports

I used to run competitively in Asics in the mid to late 80's because they were durable, comfortable and most of all, lightweight. I'm a couple decades older now, and still jog in both Asics and New Balance. I actually prefer the New Balance now for comfort.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Yep, I'm in the Plano area, will check out Run On, thanks for the tip

edbert

Yeah, there is one in Richardson at Coit and Campbell just to the east of where the Whataburger is on the southeast corner of that intersection. Good luck.

Shizelbs

Adidas running shoes are nice if you have a perfectly arched foot.

I wouldn't say Asics' are wide, but they aren't narrow either. I do believe you can order them in widths.

Sherardp

Eastbay has a selection of all name brand shoes, which is why I posted it. They have a very good selection to choose from also and often times rather cheaper than your local footlocker. I shop there all the time, check it out.

cnh

New Balance is still a good shoe. One of the things they specialize in are odd and wide sizes. I wear them much of the time myself. The majority of their shoes are still U.S. made (at least according the the definition of what the means, i.e., the percentage of the shoe made in the U.S.--it doesn't need to be 100 percent to be made in America). They've been forced to manufacture some in China and to use some Chinese made parts in order to compete.

The only other show that I've found equal to or better in comfort are, indeed the, Asics (gel) mentioned above. Those are excellent shoes. But I'm not sure if they make your size.

Nike...overrated, IMHO.

cnh

I-SIG

I have liked the Asics Gel Nimbus. I'm a neutral runner that has higher arches so I also use some PowerStep insoles.

Right now I'm in the New Balance 1062 and like them more than the Nimbus however NB has changed the last and my running store quit carrying them because no one likes the new feel.

So...I'm probably going back to the Nimbus. There is also a Brooks model I'm gonna try out soon as well as the Mizuno's again.

Wes